Guesting at Pretty Mommy

I've got a little daydream up over at Pretty Mommy. Michelle is taking a much deserved break and invited me to share my "off the grid" fantasy. This is pretty much my go-to daydream so this was easy pickins' for me. Do check it out and let me know if you ever dare to imagine a life outside of the one you know.

And then take a peek at her lovely shop, full of just about everything I want for Christmas.

Party for your Monday

Happy Monday, Friends! I'm starting my week with Michelle of Studio Surface. She hatched a great plan for a little online progressive party. So maybe you found yourself here through {Me}Longings (thanks, Chanee) and if so, welcome.  I'm so happy you came by.

Were you to actually be sitting in my living room, I'd offer you a mimosa (light on the juice) or a strong cup of coffee (heavy on the cream) - depending on your plans for the rest of the morning. Of course, chocolate croissants would be cooling on a rack. You won't have to feel intimidated by my baking prowess since I'll admit straight away to having bought them frozen from Trader Joe's. We'll have a good laugh. Then I'll probably try to coax you into starting some extensive sewing project with me because I like to assume that everyone bonds over fabric and scissors and buttons.

Maybe you'd like to share what you long to do with a free Monday. P.S. I don't want to hear a word about work or errands. Strictly daydreams around these parts.

And when you have lingered just long enough and our bottle (or coffee pot) is drained, won't you then pop on over to see what Bianca of Bink and Boo is up to? She is a super talented seamstress and thrifter extraordinaire, and almost made me snort coffee through my nose last week while reading a little comment she made on another blog. Yeah, she's funny, too.

Again with the tiny

Crazy cute charm necklace by Janie Cox.

I'm pretty sure I need this tiny necklace. The engraved note card won me right over.

And speaking of small, shiny objects... are you watching the Rachel Zoe Project? I'm totally under her dumb-dumb spell. When she comes on the picture box, I simply cannot look away. There is comfort in watching people obsess so completely over "white moments" on the red carpet. It just makes my own worries feel so, I don't know, insignificant.

Go ahead and judge me.

All things small

One of my succulents has recently become a neighborhood cat toy. I've stepped out on the back porch on more than one occasion to find several sad little stems strewn across the pavement. As a last ditch effort to save my babies, I made a tiny little bouquet for my window sill and I'm hoping the succulents will sprout new roots. Any botanists out there willing to weigh in on the likelihood of self propagation?

While I wait, I'm happy to enjoy a tiny arrangement fit for Thumbalina's wedding day. Remember Thumbalina? She slept in half a walnut shell and married the Prince of Flowers. Totally unexpected gift of reading to a toddler? Remembering the fairy tales that shaped my young imagination. Have you had any of those moments with your own wee ones?

Style envy

Stunning wedding of Artemis and Nao spotted on 100 Layer Cake.

I cannot shake this wedding. Seriously, there are some really charming DIY touches, but I can't get past the dress. Hippie boho chic is just beyond my reach. I long to pull it off, but any attempt usually leaves me feeling frumpy and looking, well, dumpy. Here it is done to perfection. And I feel a big fat lady crush coming on...

Her mom made the cake. How sweet is that? And that little vintage belt is brilliant.

The couple spent their wedding night in a beautifully decorated tent on the bride's parent's property (on a bluff overlooking the ocean). The tent was filled with twinkle lights and the floor was lined with colorful afghans. The romance factor is just off the charts here.

Happy days

Lovies, I'm still basking in the glow of a fabulous weekend. Full of nothing in particular and everything that makes up a happy life. Trips to the park, making "beautiful art" (her words exactly) with Emerson, and nightly bike rides with the neighbors - four sweet little boys under four who Emerson calls "my boys".

Also, had some serious fun with my camera. It's turning into a full blown love affair, only to rival the lusty crush I have on my sewing machine. More to come, sweet friends. Hope you have a happy Monday.

Kindred spirit

Ishtar Olivera's illustrations discovered on Miles of Style.

It's no secret I'm a sucker for the redheads. This one by Ishtar Oliver is just the sweetest. Her blog, chronicling creative pursuits in photography, sewing and illustration, is a new favorite.

There is a certain comfort in finding people who so successfully express themselves through a variety of mediums. It goes against every silly rule I've clung to throughout my life. You know, pick one thing to do and do it well, pick one major, pick one career, one place to live, and on and on. I don't think life has to be done that exact way. And that there, changes everything.

Wishing you all the best weekend ever. Seriously.

Some kind of genius

Beautiful fort spotted on JoJo's Room, originally posted on Decor8.

This has officially become the motivating force behind all future crochet projects. How gorgeous is this fort? I would love to recreate it for a camping- in-the-living room adventure with Emerson.

In other news, Emily won my little giveaway. Imagine my delight when I checked out her new blog and realized she was my dorm neighbor in what feels like a former life. (We both attended University of Oregon - a shortly lived social experiment that really deserves its own post.) Love this blogging world.

And please check out my contribution over at Hello, Splendor today. Beth included me in her "What I am Listening To" feature. Such fun. Thanks, Beth.

Summer to fall

Oh, those billowy sleeves...they are a dream. I am wishing I could get my hands on any one of these Lisa Brown dresses, but as far as I can tell, they are only available in Australia.

I would happily welcome fall in either of the two lovelies below. The drapey layers are exactly what I want. What about you? What are you lusting for this fall?

Color therapy

My big plan to transform Emerson's nursery into a big girl room in this dreamy color palette headed straight to failure the moment I started picking colors. Turns out finding violets to compliment mint green with a splash of yellow and lipstick red is not as easy as it sounds. I was a sweaty mess at Home Depot. My second trip to the fabric store nearly broke me.

I so totally get why professional colorists exist. This stuff is vexing.

So I gave up on that palette (which I still really long for) and came up with my own. It's just as random and I am obviously left with some questionable options for paint, but damn if Emerson isn't getting the most colorful Sunny Tied Quilt possible.

The look of the entire room pretty much hinges on the success of this here project. Fingers crossed, friends. I'm fresh out of tears.

Thanks for the lift

Thank you, friends, for all the kind words and thoughts on loss. I love this blog for so many reasons and yesterday I was reminded of the very best in people and how it really comes out when we most need it.

Wishing you a happy Thursday.

P.S. Langston's is offering my lovely readers a special discount on denim through Monday, August 15.

For hope (and a giveaway)

Sitting in my car yesterday while parked outside my office, I tried to understand the randomness of death. News of a coworker who died unexpectedly while vacationing with his family swept through campus and reminded me of so many people I have mourned over the past few years.

I am tired and sad and angry. I know these feelings are “normal” but I also know that hopelessness is coming next and for good reason, that scares me. And because I also fear helplessness, I am moved to do something. Anything to spread a little joy, in hopes that it might have an endless ripple effect of peaceful smiles.

So, a little giveaway surprise. I’ve boxed up some treasures from my studio. Bits of happy, if you will. And I’m ready to send it out into the world. Leave a comment. Give me a tip on how you pull out of a funk. Or just tell me something good. Anything good. I’ll pick a number out of a hat on Sunday.

Check six: crocheted a (insert expletive) blanket

Holy smokes, this was a biggie. I have been wanting to crochet a blanket in the style of Charlie Brown's t-shirt for more than a year. Thankfully, Megan made the trek from New Zealand this summer and guided me through the ordeal in person. I imagined many a morning sipping coffee and catching up on life while we worked our way through the pattern.

As it turns out, crochet takes a bit of concentration (not to mention math skills) and does not really allow for the chatting I had imagined. I found it to be more of a meditative experience. And also an experiment in controlling my foul mouth in times of deep frustration.

Several times throughout I declared it my least favorite project - ever. I loved the colors and then I hated the colors. I delighted in the pattern one day and the next was completely disgusted by it. It was a manic time for me. Yesterday, I spread it out on my bed and decided...it can stay. It's not perfect, but I'm pretty proud. And that is saying something. That is progress for me.

P.S. Meg will post about her beautiful blanket later today. Do check it out. I loved her color choices.

Magic for your Monday

Photo via Flutter Glass Photography.

Romantic wedding photo aside, wouldn't you love to jump into this scene? Twinkle lights hanging from the trees and a sea of colorful lanterns just looks like a perfect party to me.

Happy pants

Lucky "Zoe" skinny jeans courtesy of Langston's.

I love a good dress up occasion. A chance to quite literally wear a dress is almost always something I look forward to. Fancy shoes, tiny handbags, lip gloss - it all comes out of hiding.

But day to day, I am a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal. But, in the months following my c-section I realized that all of my jeans lacked one very important element...stretch. Friends, I am now big believer in the power of Lycra, elastic, whatever makes a fabric, um, give just a little.

These Zoe skinnies by Lucky (with just enough stretch) were generously gifted to me by the kind folks at Langston's. If you've never heard of them, you probably don't live in Oklahoma City, where they have been outfitting locals in western wear (think cowboy boots and hats as far as the eye can see) since the early 1900's. Their online store has been my secret source for denim for a while, as I've scored several pair of Lucky's and Levi's at unheard of prices over the past few years.

Through August 15, Langston's is offering Under a Pink Moon readers a special 10% discount. Just enter the coupon code pinkmoon10 at checkout.

Check five: Gone berry pickin'

Total funfest. No kidding. Picking fruit with a toddler is cheap entertainment. I am loving this summer punch list.
Once she understood the mission, Emerson was a strawberry picking fool. Unfortunately, she shoved as much of the bounty into her mouth as quickly as her chubby little fingers could pick.
This will definitely be an annual adventure for us. Because this good time lead straight to this...more homemade ice cream goodness.

Rain check

These ladies (Jen and Melanie) hung out all day and evening for Emerson's birth. It was a dramatic 12-hour affair, but they had blocked off the day many weeks prior as we had originally planned on a ladies brunch at a favorite bistro in Santa Cruz. It was April 13, 2008 and my due date was not for another four weeks so we felt more than safe to get away for the day.

Emerson had another plan. My water broke at 4 a.m. and I had to cancel brunch. We finally had our rain check date this past weekend. The food was amazing. Seriously, if you ever find yourself near Santa Cruz do stop in to Cafe Gabriella, it's a gem.

Two bottles of prosecco led to an especially festive visit to the Boardwalk, a ride on the best roller coaster ever and chocolate dipped cones.

Check four: Making dresses and loving it

Working my way through the list has been way more fun with the encouragement of friends. There really is something to be said for making your goals known to world. Melanie challenged me to make my dress in time for a very special ladies brunch, which meant I had fewer than six days to put this together. I mostly pulled it off and happily wore this out yesterday.

If I'm completely honest, this is really the mullet of dresses. It's pretty buttoned up in the front, but it's a hot mess of a party in the back. The zipper kicked my ass all over town. And that's all I'm going to say about that. Oh, and just to be clear, I am not a professional poser, I just play one on the weekends. Obviously, looking cool while doing nothing does not come naturally to everyone.